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Clinical and radiological features of imported chikungunya fever in Japan: a study of six cases at the National Center for Global Health and Medicine

Mizuno Y, Kato Y, Takeshita N, Ujiie M, Kobayashi T, Kanagawa S, et al.

J Infect Chemother, 2011 Jun;17(3):419-23.
PMID: 20862507 DOI: 10.1007/s10156-010-0124-y

Chikungunya fever (CHIKF) is currently distributed in Africa and in South and Southeast Asia; outbreaks have occurred periodically in the region over the past 50 years. After a large outbreak had occurred in countries in the western Indian Ocean region in 2005, several countries reported cases of CHIKF from travelers who had visited affected areas. In Japan, there have been only 15 cases of CHIKF patients so far, according to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases. Therefore, to evaluate the clinical and radiological features associated with the disease, we describe 6 imported cases of CHIKF. All of the patients had had prolonged arthralgia on admission to our hospital, and diagnosis was confirmed with specific antibodies by using an IgM-capture enzyme-linked immunoassay and a plaque reduction neutralizing antibody assay. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of one patient revealed erosive arthritis and tenosynovitis during the convalescence stage. Clinicians should be aware of the late consequences of infection by the chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and recognize the possible association of subacute and chronic arthritis features. In addition, competent vectors of CHIKV, Aedes aegypti, can now be found in many temperate areas of the eastern and western hemispheres, including Japan. This fact raises concern that the virus could be introduced and become established in these areas. This necessitates an increased awareness of the disease, because imported cases are likely to contribute to the spread of CHIKV infection wherever the competent mosquito vectors are distributed.

Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis, Infectious/diagnosis; Arthritis, Infectious/epidemiology; Arthritis, Infectious/virology
Fulltext A novel de novo mutation in COL2A1 gene associated with fetal skeletal dysplasia

Chu FC, Hii LY, Hung TH, Lo LM, Hsieh TT, Shaw SW

Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol, 2021 Mar;60(2):359-362.
PMID: 33678343 DOI: 10.1016/j.tjog.2021.01.017

OBJECTIVE: Skeletal dysplasias, caused by genetic mutations, are a heterogenous group of heritable disorders affecting bone development during fetal life. Stickler syndrome, one of the skeletal dysplasias, is an autosomal dominant connective tissue disorder caused by abnormal collagen synthesis owing to a genetic mutation in COL2A1.
CASE REPORT: We present the case of a 38-year-old multipara woman whose first trimester screening showed a normal karyotype. However, the bilateral femur and humerus length symmetrically shortened after 20 weeks. Next-generation sequencing for mutations in potential genes leading to skeletal dysplasia detected a novel de novo mutation (c.1438G > A, p.Gly480Arg) in COL2A1, causing Stickler syndrome type 1. This pathogenic mutation might impair or destabilize the collagen structure, leading to collagen type II, IX, and XI dysfunction.
CONCLUSION: We identified a novel de novo mutation in COL2A1 related to the STL1 syndrome and delineated the extent of the skeletal dysplasia disease spectrum.

Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis/diagnosis*; Arthritis/embryology; Arthritis/genetics*
Effect of ethnicity on disease activity and physical function in psoriatic arthritis in a multiethnic Asian population

Leung YY, Fong W, Lui NL, Thumboo J

Clin Rheumatol, 2017 Jan;36(1):125-131.
PMID: 27796663 DOI: 10.1007/s10067-016-3460-1

Geographic differences in manifestation of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) could be related to differences in genetic or environmental factors. We aimed to compare the disease activity and functional status using validated outcome measures among patients with PsA of different ethnicities living in the same environment. We performed a cross-sectional study on consecutive patients with PsA classified by the Classification Criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis (CASPAR) criteria from a single center. Sociodemographic data, clinical variables, and patient-reported outcomes were collected using a standardized protocol. Disease activities were assessed by validated composite scores: clinical Disease Activity Index for Psoriatic Arthritis (cDAPSA), Composite Psoriatic Disease Activity Index (CPDAI), and minimal disease activity (MDA). Physical function was assessed with Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and the Medical Outcome Study Short-Form 36 (SF36) physical function subscales. Linear regression analyses were performed to identify variables associated with disease activities and physical function. Ninety-eight patients (51.5%, men) with mean (±SD) age and duration of PsA of 51.5 ± 13.8 and 5.5 ± 8.4 years were recruited. Indian was overrepresented compared with the national distribution of ethnicities. Compared to Chinese, Indian patients were more likely to be using biological therapies, have higher tender joint count, and worse enthesitis. Higher proportion of Indians had higher disease activity categories measured by cDAPSA, CPDAI, and MDA and had poorer physical function. In the multivariable analysis, ethnicity was significantly associated with HAQ and SF36-PF. Compared to Chinese, Indians with PsA living in the same environment had worse disease activity and physical function measured by validated outcomes.
Study site: Psoriatic arthritis clinic in a tertiary referral center, Singapore

Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis, Psoriatic/diagnosis; Arthritis, Psoriatic/ethnology*; Arthritis, Psoriatic/physiopathology*
Rheumatoid arthritis: Recent advances on its etiology, role of cytokines and pharmacotherapy

Alam J, Jantan I, Bukhari SNA

Biomed Pharmacother, 2017 Aug;92:615-633.
PMID: 28582758 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2017.05.055

An autoimmune disease is defined as a clinical syndrome resulted from an instigation of both T cell and B cell or individually, in the absence of any present infection or any sort of distinguishable cause. Clonal deletion of auto reactive cells remains the central canon of immunology for decades, keeping the role of T cell and B cell aside, which are actually the guards to recognize the entry of foreign body. According to NIH, 23.5 million Americans are all together affected by these diseases. They are rare, but with the exception of RA. Rheumatoid arthritis is chronic and systemic autoimmune response to the multiple joints with unknown ethology, progressive disability, systemic complications, early death and high socioeconomic costs. Its ancient disease with an old history found in North American tribes since 1500 BCE, but its etiology is yet to be explored. Current conventional and biological therapies used for RA are not fulfilling the need of the patients but give only partial responses. There is a lack of consistent and liable biomarkers of prognosis therapeutic response, and toxicity. Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by hyperplasic synovium, production of cytokines, chemokines, autoantibodies like rheumatoid factor (RF) and anticitrullinated protein antibody (ACPA), osteoclastogensis, angiogenesis and systemic consequences like cardiovascular, pulmonary, psychological, and skeletal disorders. Cytokines, a diverse group of polypeptides, play critical role in the pathogenesis of RA. Their involvement in autoimmune diseases is a rapidly growing area of biological and clinical research. Among the proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1α/β and TNF-α trigger the intracellular molecular signalling pathway responsible for the pathogenesis of RA that leads to the activation of mesenchymal cell, recruitment of innate and adaptive immune system cells, activation of synoviocytes which in term activates various mediators including tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8), resulting in inflamed synovium, increase angiogenesis and decrease lymphangiogensis. Their current pharmacotherapy should focus on their three phases of progression i.e. prearthritis phase, transition phase and clinical phase. In this way we will be able to find a way to keep the balance between the pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines that is believe to be the dogma of pathogenesis of RA. For this we need to explore new agents, whether from synthetic or natural source to find the answers for unresolved etiology of autoimmune diseases and to provide a quality of life to the patients suffering from these diseases specifically RA.

Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy*; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/etiology*; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/metabolism
Fulltext A case of gout

Monteiro ES

Journal of the Malaya Branch of the British Medical Association, 1937;1(1):73-5.

Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis, Gouty
Fulltext Rheumatoid arthritis serotype and synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in patients with periodontitis: A case-control study

Nik-Azis NM, Mohd N, Mohd Fadzilah F, Mohamed Haflah NH, Mohamed Said MS, Baharin B

PLoS One, 2021;16(6):e0252859.
PMID: 34153036 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252859

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) experience a higher prevalence of periodontitis. This study aimed to examine the variation of periodontitis experienced with different serotypes suffered by RA patients and to examine the relationship between the different medications taken for RA that may influence this relationship. Two hundred and sixty RA and control participants underwent standardized periodontal examinations. Medical, serological and radiological (Sharp/van der Heijde) records were assessed. Functional status was assessed using the administered Health Assessment Questionnaire. Moreover, disease parameters, including disease activity (DAS28-ESR) and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) and rheumatoid factor (RF) seropositivity were evaluated. Periodontitis was higher in RA (71.54%) compared with controls (54.62%). The stage of periodontitis experienced by ACPA-positive participants were higher than APCA-negative participants. The probing pocket depth and recession experienced by RF-positive participants were higher than those who were RF-negative. RA participants on methotrexate had lower clinical attachment loss and lower periodontal probing depth compared with participants on a combination methotrexate and other disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. Participants taking corticosteroids had lower gingival index scores. The association between seropositivity and the type of medications taken with periodontal health parameters in this group of patients suggests that both seropositivity and medications taken are important modifiers in the relationship between periodontitis and RA.

Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis, Rheumatoid/blood; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/physiopathology*
Fulltext Anti-citrullinated cyclic peptide antibody and functional disability are associated with poor sleep quality in rheumatoid arthritis

Rajalingam S, Sakthiswary R, Hussein H

Arch Rheumatol, 2017 Mar;32(1):15-20.
PMID: 30375543 DOI: 10.5606/ArchRheumatol.2017.5960

Objectives: This study aims to determine the predictors of poor sleep quality in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Patients and methods: This was a monocentric, cross sectional, case-control study which was conducted at the Putrajaya Hospital, Malaysia. We recruited 46 patients with RA (3 males; 43 females; mean age 48.15±14.96) and 46 age and sex-matched healthy controls (3 males; 43 females; mean age 47.11±12.22). RA patients were assessed for their disease activity based on disease activity score in 28 joints, disease damage based on radiographic erosions, and functional status based on Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores were determined by interviewing all the subjects. Subjects with RA were further subdivided based on their PSQI scores as "good sleepers" with PSQI scores of <5 and "poor sleepers" with PSQI scores of ≥5.

Results: The percentage of poor sleepers was significantly higher among RA patients (47.83% versus 9.57%). Median scores of 5 out of 7 components of the PSQI were higher among RA patients compared to controls. Among poor sleepers with RA, a significantly higher proportion tested positive for anti-citrullinated cyclic peptide autoantibodies (p=0.037). Besides, poor sleepers had significantly higher median Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (p=0.017) than good sleepers. However, both Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (p=0.968) and anti-citrullinated cyclic peptide (p=0.431) were insignificant when entered in the equation of a logistic regression model.

Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrate a link between functional disability, anti-citrullinated cyclic peptide antibodies, and sleep quality in RA.

Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis, Rheumatoid
Proteomic Analysis of Synovial Fluid Obtained From a Dog Diagnosed With Idiopathic Immune-Mediated Polyarthritis

Tan WM, Lau SF, Ajat M, Mansor R, Abd Rani PAM, Rahmad NB

Top Companion Anim Med, 2017 Mar;32(1):24-27.
PMID: 28750786 DOI: 10.1053/j.tcam.2017.05.002

This case study is to report the proteins detected by proteomic analysis of synovial fluid from a dog diagnosed with idiopathic immune-mediated polyarthritis, and to compare it with healthy dogs. Synovial fluid was collected via arthrocentesis from a dog diagnosed with immune-mediated polyarthritis. Protein precipitation was performed on the synovial fluid, followed by isoelectric focusing and 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The spots on the 2-dimensional gels were analyzed using MALDI-TOF/MS. The results were then analyzed against the MASCOT database. The results from the proteomic analysis revealed an abundance of several types of immunoglobulins together with the presence of complement C4b-binding protein alpha chain. Actin and keratin were also among the proteins detected. Proteomic studies, facilitate a better understanding of the different levels of proteins expressed during disease activity. Potential disease biomarkers can aid in the diagnosis of disease, as well as help in monitoring treatment efficacy and providing prognosis for the patient.

Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis/blood; Arthritis/immunology; Arthritis/veterinary*
Fulltext Rheumatoid arthritis: refractory to infliximab, a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor

Solehan HM, Said MS, Shaharir S, Rajalingham S

J Clin Med Res, 2011 Oct;3(5):270-4.
PMID: 22383918 DOI: 10.4021/jocmr630w

Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the commonest autoimmune diseases. It is a chronic, progressive, systemic inflammatory disorder affecting the synovial joints and typically producing symmetrical arthritis. If left untreated, it leads to joint destruction and thus deformity and disability.In the recent years, advances in molecular biology have led to a variety of new treatment approaches to rheumatoid arthritis and other systemic inflammatory diseases associated with autoimmunity. Anti tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents are emerging in the frontline management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the current era of biological treatment. We presented a 46-year-old Chinese female with a history of seropositive RA for the past 22 years refractory and intolerant to multiple medications including sulphasalazine (SSZ), leflunomide, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and methotrexate (MTX), thus infliximab, a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor was initiated. However, despite receiving 6 cycles of infliximab therapy, she still complained of persistent disabled multiple joint pain and swelling. This report will discuss about rheumatoid arthritis, which is refractory to infliximab (a TNF inhibitor) and its alternative.

Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis, Rheumatoid
Subclinical atherosclerosis among rheumatoid arthritis patients without overt cardiovascular risk factors

Sahari NS, Shaharir SS, Ismail MR, Rajalingham S, Mohamed Said MS

Mod Rheumatol, 2014 Nov;24(6):920-5.
PMID: 24645724 DOI: 10.3109/14397595.2014.891497

OBJECTIVE: To determine the associated factors of subclinical atherosclerosis measured with carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients without any overt traditional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors.
METHODS: Forty RA patients with matched age and gender healthy controls were recruited. Carotid ultrasound was performed to all subjects. CIMT was considered to be abnormally thickened if it was more than the 75th percentile matched for age and sex reference values. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the association between the sociodemographics and disease characteristics of RA with thickened CIMT.
RESULTS: Abnormally thickened CIMT were observed in 11 RA patients (27.5%) and in 4 control subjects (10%), p = 0.04. It was highly prevalent among RA patients with active disease (54.5% vs 17.2%), p = 0.02. Patients with thickened CIMT also tend to have erosive disease, p = 0.06. Seropositive rheumatoid factor (RF) patients also had significantly higher CIMT values as compared with sero-negative patients, p = 0.03. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that active disease was independently associated with thickened CIMT.
CONCLUSIONS: RA patients are at risk for subclinical atherosclerosis despite absence of traditional CV risk co morbidities and active disease was the independent factor associated with it.
KEYWORDS: Atherosclerosis; Carotid intima media thickness; Disease activity; Rheumatoid arthritis
Study site: Rheumatology Clinic, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis, Rheumatoid/complications*; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/ultrasonography
Effect of rocker shoes on pain, disability and activity limitation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Bagherzadeh Cham M, Ghasemi MS, Forogh B, Sanjari MA, Zabihi Yeganeh M, Eshraghi A

Prosthet Orthot Int, 2014 Aug;38(4):310-5.
PMID: 23986467 DOI: 10.1177/0309364613498537

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory joint disease which affects the joints and soft tissues of the foot and ankle. Rocker shoes may be prescribed for the symptomatic foot in rheumatoid arthritis; however, there is a limited evidence base to support the use of rocker shoes in these patients.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of heel-to-toe rocker shoes on pain, disability, and activity limitation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
STUDY DESIGN: Clinical trial.
METHODS: Seventeen female patients with rheumatoid arthritis of 1 year or more duration, disease activity score of less than 2.6, and foot and ankle pain were recruited. Heel-to-toe rocker shoe was made according to each patient's foot size. All the patients were evaluated immediately, 7 and 30 days after their first visit. Foot Function Index values were recorded at each appointment.
RESULTS: With the use of rocker shoes, Foot Function Index values decreased in all subscales. This reduction was noted in the first visit and was maintained throughout the trials.
CONCLUSION: Rocker shoe can improve pain, disability, and activity limitation in patients with rheumatoid foot pain. All the subjects reported improved comfort levels.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The results of this study showed that high-top, heel-to-toe rocker shoe with wide toe box was effective at reducing foot and ankle pain. It was also regarded as comfortable and acceptable footwear by the patients with rheumatoid foot problems.
KEYWORDS: Foot Function Index questionnaire; Rheumatoid arthritis; pain; rocker shoes
Study site: Biomechanics Lab, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis, Rheumatoid/complications; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/therapy*
Fulltext Gouty wrist arthritis causing carpal tunnel syndrome--a case report

Sikkandar MF, Sapuan J, Singh R, Abdullah S

Med J Malaysia, 2012 Jun;67(3):333-4.
PMID: 23082430

A 63 year old male with a history of gout and hypertension presented with carpal tunnel syndrome. He gave history of bilateral wrist pain associated with numbness over the median nerve distribution of the hand. Tinels sign and Phalens test were positive with no obvious thenar muscle wasting on examination. Tophaceous deposits in the flexor tendons and within the synovium of the wrist joint was seen during surgery and this established gout as the cause of median nerve entrapment in this patient.

Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis, Gouty/complications*; Arthritis, Gouty/radiography
Comment on: Multicentre survey of rheumatoid arthritis patients from Ministry of Health rheumatology centres in Malaysia

Yeap SS

Int J Rheum Dis, 2009 Jul;12(2):177-8; author reply 179.
PMID: 20374340 DOI: 10.1111/j.1756-185X.2009.01403.x

Comment on: Shahrir M, Shahdan M, Shahid M, Sulaiman W, Mokhtar AM, Othman M, et al. Multicentre survey of rheumatoid arthritis patients from ministry of health rheumatology centers in malaysia. Int J Rheum Dis. 2008;11(3):287-92. doi:10.1111/j.1756-185X.2008.00379.x;

Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy*; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/epidemiology*
Rheumatoid arthritis in paintings: a tale of two origins

Yeap SS

Int J Rheum Dis, 2009 Dec;12(4):343-7.
PMID: 20374373 DOI: 10.1111/j.1756-185X.2009.01434.x

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is thought to be a 'recent' disease in that descriptions of it were only noted in the 17th century. However, a study of paintings would suggest that RA could have been present as early as the 15th century, when artists started to paint the human body accurately rather than figuratively. Thus, it was possible to deduce from their paintings the occurrence of various medical conditions. If present, RA with its typical finger deformities should be apparent. This review discusses the known occurrences of RA-type deformities in paintings and places this in the context of the origins of the disease.

Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis, Rheumatoid/complications; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/history*
A study of intima media thickness and their cardiovascular risk factors in patients with psoriatic arthritis

Mazlan SA, bin Mohamed Said MS, Hussein H, binti Shamsuddin K, Shah SA, Basri H

Acta Medica (Hradec Kralove), 2009;52(3):107-16.
PMID: 20073422 DOI: 10.14712/18059694.2016.114

INTRODUCTION: Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory arthritis associated with Psoriasis. Its recognition as an inflammatory disease distinct from Rheumatoid Arthritis has put forward for consideration several questions regarding its specific CVS mortality and morbidity (9, 11, 16, 26). Carotid intima media thickness is a useful surrogate and sensitive marker to determine atherosclerosis even in its subclinical stages (6, 14, 22, 27, 32).

OBJECTIVE: Prevalence of carotid intima media thickness in patients with Psoriatic arthritis is unknown in Asian population. We aim to identify the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with psoriatic arthritis and disease activity association and its predictors in a series of patients with PsA attended to the rheumatology clinic, tertiary hospitals.

METHODS: A total of 63 patients with PsA who fulfilled the CASPAR criteria were recruited from UKM Medical Centre and Hospital Putrajaya. Common carotid intima media thickness (IMT) was measured in both right and left carotid artery by using high resolution B-mode ultrasound. This was a cross sectional study first done in Malaysia for PsA patients.

RESULTS: The positive IMT (IMT > 1.00 mm) among PsA was observed in 10 out of 63 patients (15.9 %) regardless of background cardiovascular risk. The mean +/- SD of IMT was 0.725 +/-0.260 mm for this study. Variables significantly associated with positive IMT (p < 0.05) included age at the time of study (p = 0.005), waist circumference (p = 0.001), Hypertension (p = 0.007), Diabetes (p = 0.002) and Metabolic syndrome (p = 0.001) and not associated with gender, ethnicity, duration of PsA disease, pattern of PsA, disease activity and severity. Above all, only age had positive IMT independent predictor (p = 0.032), with OR 1.116; 95 % CI (1.010-1.234).

CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant association between CVS risk and positive Intima Media Thickness in Psoriatic Arthritis patients. Otherwise, there was no association in disease activity, disease severity and DMARDS therapy with positive Intima Media Thickness in Psoriatic Arthritis patients. The study was approved by Research and Ethics Committee of the faculty of medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia with project code FF-114-2008 and by Community Research Center (CRC) of National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the case study in Hospital Putrajaya with the project code NMRR-08-970-2125.

Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis, Psoriatic/complications; Arthritis, Psoriatic/pathology*
Fulltext The pale and limping child

S Fadilah SAW, Cheong SK, Shahdan S

Postgrad Med J, 2000 Nov;76(901):717, 725-6.
PMID: 11060153 DOI: 10.1136/pmj.76.901.717
Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis, Juvenile/complications; Arthritis, Juvenile/diagnosis*
A proposed hierarchical fuzzy inference system for the diagnosis of arthritic diseases

Lim CK, Yew KM, Ng KH, Abdullah BJ

Australas Phys Eng Sci Med, 2002 Sep;25(3):144-50.
PMID: 12416592 DOI: 10.1007/BF03178776

Development of computer-based medical inference systems is always confronted with some difficulties. In this paper, difficulties of designing an inference system for the diagnosis of arthritic diseases are described, including variations of disease manifestations under various situations and conditions. Furthermore, the need for a huge knowledge base would result in low efficiency of the inference system. We proposed a hierarchical model of the fuzzy inference system as a possible solution. With such a model, the diagnostic process is divided into two levels. The first level of the diagnosis reduces the scope of diagnosis to be processed by the second level. This will reduce the amount of input and mapping for the whole diagnostic process. Fuzzy relational theory is the core of this system and it is used in both levels to improve the accuracy.

Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis/classification*; Arthritis/diagnosis*
Emerging and re-emerging diseases in Malaysia

Lam SK

Asia Pac J Public Health, 2002;14(1):6-8.
PMID: 12597511 DOI: 10.1177/101053950201400103

Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases have become a major global problem. Malaysia appears to be an epicenter for such infections and in recent years, several outbreaks have occurred resulting in loss of lives and economic hardships. In this paper, we discussed the outbreaks of leptospirosis, enterovirus 71 encephalitis, chikungunya polyarthritis and Nipah encephalitis and how a developing country such as Malaysia managed the situation with the help of international agencies and organisations. Many valuable lessons were learned and by sharing our experience, it is hoped that we will be in a better position to handle future outbreaks and prevent their spread to countries in the region.

Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis, Infectious/epidemiology; Arthritis, Infectious/virology
Suppressive effects of eugenol and ginger oil on arthritic rats

Sharma JN, Srivastava KC, Gan EK

Pharmacology, 1994 Nov;49(5):314-8.
PMID: 7862743

This study examined the effect of eugenol and ginger oil on severe chronic adjuvant arthritis in rats. Severe arthritis was induced in the right knee and right paw of male Sprague-Dawley rats by injecting 0.05 ml of a fine suspension of dead Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli in liquid paraffin (5 mg/ml). Eugenol (33 mg/kg) and ginger oil (33 mg/kg), given orally for 26 days, caused a significant suppression of both paw and joint swelling. These findings suggest that eugenol and ginger oil have potent antiinflammatory and/or antirheumatic properties.

Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis, Experimental/drug therapy*; Arthritis, Experimental/etiology
The expression of rheumatoid arthritis in Malaysian and British patients: a comparative study

Veerapen K, Mangat G, Watt I, Dieppe P

Br J Rheumatol, 1993 Jul;32(7):541-5.
PMID: 8339122

Seventy consecutive patients with definite or classical RA attending a University Hospital Rheumatology Clinic in Malaysia, were compared with an age, sex, disease duration matched group of RA patients seen in a British University Hospital. There were no differences in measures of disease activity, overall functional status or serological status in the two groups. However significant differences were seen in both the articular and extra-articular manifestations of the disease in the two countries. British patients had more severe disease in the feet, and a higher prevalence of nodules, vasculitis and pulmonary fibrosis. The Malaysian population had fewer erosions, more frequent involvement of the wrists and cervical spine, and a much higher incidence of secondary sicca syndrome. Radiographic changes were generally milder in Malaysian patients. Possible reasons for these differences in the expression of RA in the two countries are discussed.

Matched MeSH terms: Arthritis, Rheumatoid/epidemiology*; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/physiopathology

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